Garment sleeve steamer and stretcher



July 8, 1947 c. R. LENDLE 2,423,509

GARMENT SLEEVE STEAMER AND STRETCHER Filed Aug. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 8, 1947. c. R. LENDLE GARMENT SLEEVE STEAMER AND STRETCHER Filed Aug. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 8, 1947 GARMENT SLEEVE STEAMER AND STRETCHER Carl R. Lendle, Youngstown, Ohio, assgnor tov United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 23, 1944, Serial No; 550,698

Claims.

This invention relates to the renovation of garments and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved sleeve renovating and stretching device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a view of one of the sleeve clamps;

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the clamp in its sleeve clamping position; and

Figure 5 is a view of a drying air deector means.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of a base I0 on which is mounted a housing I2. To the housing I2 is fixedly secured two elbow or sleeve supports I4. The supports I4 are identical in construction and are spaced in parallel relationship, the spacing being such as to facilitate the positioning of a sleeve upon each support without interference from the other. Underneath the two supports I4 are positioned two front sleeve supports I6. Each support I6 lies in a common vertical plane with one of the supports I4. While the two supports I4 are xedly mounted, the two supports I6 are mounted for movement toward and away from their respective supports I4, so that sleeves mounted on the supports may be stretched transversely for forming purposes.

A U-shaped member I3 has its legs 28 pivotally connected at 22 with a support 24. Each leg 28 is pivotally connected at 26 with one of the supports I6 intermediate the ends of the latter, and each leg extends freely through a slot 28 in the housing I2.

A shaft 30 extends transversely of the housing I2 and is rotatably journaled in bearings 32 secured to the housing. To the shaft 30 is secured a lever 34 having a bifurcated end 33 slidably engaging and guiding the bight 38 of the member I8. To the end 36 is connected one end of a tension spring 46 having its other end anchored to the housing I 2.

The lever 34 is urged clockwise by the spring 46, which clockwise rotation pivots the member I8 for moving the supports I6 toward their respective supports I4. A quadrant 42 coacts with the pawl 44 on the lever 34 for latching the lever against rotation by the spring 40. Stretching pressure is applied to the sleeves by pivoting the lever 34 in a counter-clockwise direction. Since the operator usually stands at or about the ends of the supports I4 remote from the housing I2, it is a relatively easy matter to exert a pull on the lever 34 for applying forming pressure to the supports I6. Mere lifting of the pawl 44 permits the spring 46 to pivot the lever 34 to move the supports I6 to sleeve releasing positions.

Slidably mounted on each of the supports I4 is a sleeve pad 46 inserted in the outer end of the sleeve as it is placed in position on one of the supports I4 and its coacting support I6.

In Figures 3 and 4, a sleeve clamp 48 is illustrated in association with its respective pad 46. Both sets of pads 46 and their respective clamps 48 are identical in construction so that the description of one will apply to both.

The clamp 48 comprises two padded members 56 and 52 paralleling the padded plate-like members 54 of the pad 46. Member 52 is xedly secured at 56 to bars 58 extending loosely through a plate 68 pivotally mounted at 62 on a lug 64 on the pad 46. Member 50 is slidably mounted on the bars 58. Compression springs 66 are mounted on the bars 58 and interposed between the respective members 50 and 52 and the plate 60. A shaft 68 extends loosely through a sleeve 'I0 on the plate 60 and through openings in the members 50 and 52. A wing nut 12 is threaded on the shaft 68 and engages a boss 'I4 on the member 56. Shaft 68 extends loosely through the boss 14.

To the end of the'shaft 68 opposite the wing nut 'I2 is connected an eccentric 16, as at 18. A lever is attached to the eccentric 'I6 to facilitate rotation thereof. The eccentric I6 engages the member 52 and guidingly engages plates 82 attached to the member 52. While the eccentric 'I6 pivots freely between the plates 82, the plates have engagement with the eccentric so that the clamp 48 may be rotated about the axis of the shaft 68.

Figures 1 and 3 illustrate the normal position of the clamp 48, at which time the clamp is so positioned as to permit the sleeve to be slipped easily over the pad 48. As the clamp 48 is Pivoted downwardly to the position of Figure 4, the sleeve may be firmly clamped in position against the pad 46, as at 84, through rotation of the eccentric 'I6 about its axis I8. With the lever 80 in its dotted line position of Figure 4, the members 50 and 52 are urged to the positions of Figure 3 by reason of the springs 58.

In Figure 2, a bar 86 xedly interconnects the two pads 46, which bar is pivotally connected with rods 88 pivotally connected with armsll attached to a shaft 92 rotated through the medium of a lever 94. Thus rotation of the lever 94 imparts sliding motion to the pads 46 on the sup.

ports I4. Since the clamps 48 are carried by the pads 46, the clamps shift with their respective pads 46.

The lever S4 is provided with a pawl 96 coacting with a quadrant 98 so that the pads 46 may be secured in the desired positions. Curved shoulder-engaging members |90 are attached to the outer ends of the supports I4 for engagement with the shoulder portion of the garment. U- shaped clamps may be pressed over the shoulder portion of the garment for securing the sleeve against relative shifting when a pull is exerted thereon by one of the clamps 48. Such a U- shaped clamp is illustrated at |92 in Figure 2 in association with one of the supports I4.

Each support I4 is provided with a steam pipe for admitting steam inside the sleeve. Figure 1 illustrates a pipe |04 bent back upon itself at |06 adjacent the shoulder-engaging member Iliii. The upper run |08 of the pipe is perforated and jlies closely adjacent the lower Vedge of the support '|4. The'run vIiii enters the support |4-at IIO and connects with a quick opening valve |I2. Both supports I4 are of tubular formation. Pipe |04 `has a return run II4 for condensate which may lform therein. Both supports I 4 are provided with identical steam pipes.

Both runs IilS connect with the valve ||2 and the latter is in communication with a chamber `I I provided with a steam inlet pipe I|6 leading to a 'Suitable steam generator (not shown). An outlet pipe IIB has communication with the bottom of the chamber |I-5 for the removal 'of condensate which may form therein. Thus steam only flows through the steam pipes. may be actuated by a foot-operated lever I 2b.

Inside the housing I2 is mounted a fan I 22 driven lby a mot-or I 24. The fan |22 is positioned inside an open-ended tube |26 having one end secured to the housing axially of -an opening |28 therein. A steam heated coil |30 is mounted inside the tube vI'i between the vfan and the outlet end ofthe tube. Heated air blown by the fan Valve IIZ Y |22 is deflected upwardly through a neck |32 provided with defiecting vanes |34. Neck |32 is located underneath the supporting arms "I4 and `II so asto deilect heated air upwardly about the sleeves mounted on the supports.

The supports IB Yare perforated at |36 for the 4passage of steam released Yinside `the sleeves by 4thesteam ypipe I B4.

1In operation, one or 'two sleeves maybe han- 'died'at'a time. As a rule, both sleeves are mounted on the respective'supports i4 and i6. With the sleeves positioned onithe supports, the clamps '48 a're Ypivoted downwardly for firmly securing the outer Vends of the sleeves. Graduations '|38 are provided on the supports I4 for locating the lpads 46 'in conformity with sleeves of predetermined lengths. Thus the sleeves may be held :tautly in a 'lengthwise direction, in addition to 'appropriately stretched with respect to width and contour. The supports I4 and I6 stretch the sleeve crosswise lfor forming purposes, and the supports-eliminate'folds in the lining of sleeves v'so that the processed sleeve will take a smooth appearance devoid lof `seam and wrinkle Vmarks "incident to pressing lby conventional pressure de- A table --I is fmounted'on the housing 'I2 underneath the supports I5 which table serves as a support for the body of the garment during the steaming process.

The machine may be successfully operated by inexperienced operators. A machine of this type produces a smooth, neat piece of work. It eliminates soiled creases in the sleeves after the sleeve hems are let out, eliminates crooked sleeve openings, and one sleeve only may be lengthened without showing any difference in appearance from the other sleeve. By merely stretching the sleeve, the machine brings out the nap of the material without showing the impressions of the undersleeve'seam and the like.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

i claim:

l. A garment sleeve steamer and stretcher comprising vrst and second supports -ior inside sleeve engagement, said second support being movable, meansior moving` said second support relatively to said first supporttestretch the sleeve crosswise, a garment shoulder engaging end on said first support, a sleeve clamp slidabie longitudinally of said first support for 'the other end. of said sleeve coactin'g with said garment shoulder engaging end for stretching thesleeve lengthwise, and means for admitting steam inside the sleeve.

2. A garment sleeve steamer and stretcher comprising rst and second supports for inside sleeve engagement, said second support being movable, means for moving said second support relatively to said fir-st support to stretch the sleeve crosswise, a garment shoulder engaging end on said rs't support, afsleeve lclamp slidable longitudinally of said rst support for the other end of sai-d sleeve coact-ing with said garment shoulder engaging end for stretching -the'sleeve lengthwise, said sleeve clamp comprising a pad, and padded members coacting with said pad to clamp the sleeve, said padded'members being pivotally mounted on said pad and the ylatter being slidable on saidiirst support.

3. YA `garmentsleeve'steamer and stretcher comprising a pair oi sleeve-supporting devices respectively insertable in thesleeves 4oi the garment, each of said devices comprising'rs't and second members for inside sleeve engagement, Asaid second members being movablel relatively 'to their respective rst members, means lfor moving said second members to stretch the sleeves crosswise, means for ladmitting steam linside `the sleeves, said first members being provided with garment shoulder Vengaging ends, and 'sleeve clamps slidabie longitudinally ofjsaid iirstm'embers for the other ends oi? the sleeves 'coacting with said garment shoulder engaging 'en'ds "for stretching the sleeves lengthwise.

e. A Vgarment sleeve steamer and stretcher comprising a pair of sleeve supporting devicesrespectively insertab-le in 'the sleevesjo'flthe garment, eachloi 'said devices'comprising iirstand second lmembers for inside sleeve engagement, said `second members being'mvable 'relatively to theirk respective vlirst members,V means fofmo'ving saidsecondmembers to stret'chthe sleeves `Acrosswise, means `for 'admitting 'steam inside "the sleeves, said iirst 'members being :provided with garment shoulder 4engaging ends, sleeve "clamps slidableilongitudinally of said first members N'for the other 'ends of the'sleeves coacting Withsaid garment shoulder engagingends for stretching the sleeves lengthwise, said sleeve clamps each comprising a pad slidable on its respective first member, said pads being xedly connected one with the other for unit sliding movement, and padded members pivotally connected with their respective pads.

5. A garment sleeve steamer and stretcher comprising a pair of sleeve supporting devices respectively insertable in the sleeves of the garment, each of said devices comprising first and second members for inside sleeve engagement, said second members being movable relatively to their respective rst members, means for moving said second members to stretch the sleeves crosswise, means for admitting steam inside the sleeves, said first members being provided with garment shoulder engaging ends, sleeve clamps slidable longitudinally of said first members for the other ends of the sleeves coacting with said garment shoulder engaging ends for stretching the sleeves lengthwise, said sleeve clamps each comp-rising a pad slidable on its respective rst member, said pads being fiXedly connected one with the other for unit sliding movement, padded REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,887,561 McVey Nov. 15, 1932 iil/lll Belmont Oct. 25, 1932 2,092,278 Harvey Sept. 7, 1937 1,608,451 Wigglesworth Nov. 23, 1926 2,206,605 Greco et al. July 2, 1940 

